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Building Healthy Santa Ana Building Healthy Communities (SABH Communities December 1st, 2015 Dear Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem and City Councilmembers, With this letter we share our concerns for item 25C on tonight's City Council agenda. We, the Santa Ana Building Healthy Communities, Equity for All Workgroup, and Wellness District Coalition, believe development ought to uplift all people, be community driven and provide broad benefit, especially when it is city funded. Over the last few years, we have seen City officials recognize the strength of transparency and public participation. However, the wayfinding proposal before you on tonight's agenda does not reflect an inclusive, unbiased, participatory process. As City Staff explained to us, the initial plan for wayfinding was completed in 2010, and updated in April to include the private business branding of East and West End. We do not feel there was sufficient notification or input provided on this matter. Furthermore, we do not support that public dollars finance the designation of East and West End as districts in the downtown, when those brands did not go through a public process. Approving the signs as proposed tonight will show an imbalance of power and influence on who gets to shape our City. As final decision makers, it behooves our Council to ensure fairness and equity. We support the Santa Ana Business Council proposal with the following recommendations: 1) Either the East or West End go through a public process and get wide community and council support to publicly legitimate the brand in becoming a public sign designation, which can then be funded by public dollars, or 2) Downtown Inc. garners the support of the BID stakeholders from the East and West End to pay for the signs directly with DTI BID dollars, or 3) The signs are privately funded by philanthropic donors, or 4) The City aim for the comprehensive way finding signs which are more inclusive of the whole downtown and leave out the private brand initiative signage designating East & West End in the public way finding As you are aware, the Santa Ana Building Healthy Communities is a unique initiative to bring much needed improvements in the conditions of health and well being of families in Santa Ana. Through our efforts in collaboration with many community based organizations, neighborhood residents, youth, and local businesses, and with your leadership, we have successfully approved the Sunshine Ordinance, The City's 5 Year Strategic Plan, and the Santa Ana Wellness Resolution, amongst other things. We will continue to make great strides with the broader Santa Ana community in as much as we can move forward together. Sincerely, Santa Ana Building Healthy Communities Equity for All Workgroup Wellness District Coalition